There are two on trademe and this link is interesting in that everyone agrees the boats are better and faster than H16s! Two people saying they have never been beaten by one!
This boat looks really loved.
But I can't shut my mouth about the fact that it is hard to find a boat uglier than the banana Hobies...unless you go to a Prindle 16!!! : )
Now that is one slab sided ugly bit of kit.

Hmmmm...

So, it's blowing outside, and I'm just waiting to see a kitesurfer cruise past my window... if only I had a cat <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I wandered out to the neighbours, and sure enough, that cat on his lawn is a Windrush 14! When he gets back from holiday, I'm going sailing!

That white PT down in Taranaki is quite sexy, and very tempting, but based on all the advice I'm getting, Im leaning towards the windrush.

Warbird, you certainly are a college of knowledge - I'm not sure if your description of introducing a partner to cat sailing was a glimpse into my future, or your past - either way - sounds like a familiar story.

A couple of questions remain for me...
- How will a Windrush 14 handle in lighter winds - 7-10kts
- Does the Windrush have a trapeze?

I will get notified when any Windrush / PT come up for sale.

I'm looking forward to joining the club...

I know a local guy here has a cat that is the old version of the windrush 14, called a trac 14, same exact boat different name. It has a trapeze and he sails it pretty well when he actually comes out, which is only about 2 times a summer.

a windrush is just a great all round boat in 7 to 10 knots its as competertive as anything in a race should more or less keep pace with a hobie 16 and in more wind they are just great fun, great on the beach as they are fairly strong and light

as for the trapese some will have them some won't but its only a bit of wire, if you are 11 stone like me just attach them to the mast, if you weigh a bit more ask around about weather the mast will taking it but i think they should be fine, so good decision mate

happy sailing

Yes, some have them and some don't. Just a bit of wire. Can cost by the time you have the bits so better if the boat is already fitted. Most important are the hulls and sails. The rest is easy to find at the second hand table in Boat bitz.
The boat is great in lighter airs and great in heavy. It will nose dive but stop at the mast and then pop back out and sail off.
You have to be asleep to flip it.
The rudders have thick rubber castings for the cross bar and so self centre. This means in 20 knots of wind you can sail with no hands on the extension for up to ten seconds before any great speed loss. The super sloop....trapped version...has a 6 to one boom finnish sheeting system ending in a ratchet block. This means the main is always hanging in front of your face so you never have to search for the right bit to grab. It has two baggage boxes in the aft section ports. These will be finished with rivets. Drill them and replace them with nuts and bolts. Check the keels which are flat for wear. some is okay but not too thin. Check the seams where the top meets the bottom. The extrusion is thicker top and bottom so as to negate need for dolphin striker. Remember that if wanting to rivet something to it.
Check the ali castings where the beams meet the hulls as the big screws undo so the hulls fold in for roof rack transport. These sometimes crack.
Also check the rudder blade mechanism for slop and working ability.
It has an internal spring mechanism which can be a pain.
The deep rudders are very well balanced and can be lifted remotely and have three setting for shallow sailing off and into the beach.

You can download the complete manual from the net.

sail fast.

Wow - that all sounds complicated to me - I will print this out when I go looking at one.

Thx Warbird.

Do NOT rush out and buy the first cat you look at. Go to local sailing clubs and talk to owners, they should advise and help you to learn what to look for and recognise what is good value and what is an expensive lesson. You want to buy a cat to enjoy not have it suddenly break something vital when you get a 20+ knot gust. Also know what gear ie good quality mainsheet blocks, downhaul, proper rudders should come with the cat and whether the sails are blown out or good value. The more you know what to look for the more you can save by not having to get expensive bits and pieces

I learned on a Hobie 16, and in 20 knots you can almost right one with out a righting line. simple boat hard to race easy to sail, in my opinion its a great starter boat, go out with a buddy and flip it a few times so you get the hang of it. flip, stand forward on hull in water until boat weathervanes and bows are pointed into wind and lean back on righting line..up she goes (make sure all lines are uncleated first.) as a bonus they're tuff as nails so being a noob won't trash your boat.

If you are having trouble righting a 16 you need to either use the wind against your tramp more to your advantage, or you need a longer line..hook it to your harness and lean. I used to right my 16 solo when I was a teenager. No offense, but the 16 has much more to offer than the Paper Tiger. Don't be shy, jump in.

No offense taken but I will reply.
By what a boat might offer one could never claim the agricultural tech of the H16 could compare in any way to the tech understanding of sailing a PT can deliver and demands....one is a sailboat and the other is a sea plough/jungle gym.
The ability to set the PT sail with cleaver and powerful trim components, planing hull and the ability to tack at will seems to make the inner harbour, short course high wind race my domain against the 16s.
This Years New Years day race I started last and finished first in 20/25 knots. I put 6 minutes on one H16 and 4 minutes on the other sailing a Nacra 14sq. in 24 minutes of sailing time.
Now while better Hobie sailors might have beaten me these were four fit men all with harnesses and able to trap and one of the boats had seasoned H16 race sailors on it....the sort of dudes who arrived by sailing the boat up the sand in front of the crowd and stepping off the boat onto the dry without falling over to the delight of those watching.

Now those same Hobies and the sailors on them would destroy me in 10/15 knotts on either 14...but and here is the rub for you as a newbie...as soon as the wind got up they (including the seasoned pair) were too busy dealing with the wind to sail to win.


Noob solo sailing on an H16 is irresponsible unless performed in quiet on shore conditions.... Someone has to sort you out if you blow it.

As a fit ex windsurfer on the 14 you can go out solo tomorrow in 15 knot on shore wind and thrash and crash to your hearts content without talking someone else out of their day to fix you.
After two or three times you would graduate to 25 knots and really trialing yourself.
These skills created the move to H16 as the best crash and bash all-rounder on the market is a good one.

Finally, we live in a new web world where your boat is a piece of cake to sell and the next easy to buy and replace it with. It is not like you are marrying the bloody thing.

BLR,
I don't know if you or anyone else remembers but I remember a guy that visted the catsailor forum a few years back asking for advice on solo righting a H16.
I heard he was trained in survival.
Does anyone remember this person and what happenned?

Regards,
Phill

Maybe he flipped his 16 and survival training didn't pay off?

I used to keep a big trash bag on the boat..If I flipped I worked fast to keep from going turtle. I had a long line that I hooked to my harness. I would get the tramp against the wind as much as possible and begin filling the bag..just the motion of trying to lift the bag out the water would usually provide enough pull to get the boat back over. Don't get me wrong by teenager I meant 17-19, not 13 or 14. And there have been times I did need help (real choppy water, water in mast etc.) but generally I was able to do it on my own.

I have nothing against a 14 (used to have one) and in this specific case it may truly be the better of the two choices.. but for my taste I personally have a soft spot for the H16 and it will always be my first suggestion to someone interested in getting into sailing ..and no I'm not one of those "Hobie way of life" people

Well, ladies and gents... I finally joined the club!!!

I purchased a windrush 14 about a week ago. I took it out on Saturday, and again today (took the day off). I don't think I've had more than 8 knots yet, so I'm really looking forward to see her go in some wind!

Thanks for all your help and advice... me and my windrush are happy <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Welcome along Zane, so now you can get wet.